Eldorado Canyon, Nevada – Lawlessness on the Colorado River
Eldorado Canyon, nestled in the arid landscape of southern Nevada, whispers tales of a bygone era, a time when the allure of gold and silver fueled both prosperity and unrest. Situated along the life-giving Colorado River, this canyon’s history is a tapestry woven with threads of indigenous heritage, Spanish exploration, mining booms, and the relentless pursuit of fortune. The narrative of Eldorado Canyon is not merely a chronicle of economic activity; it’s a vibrant saga of human resilience, greed, and the enduring struggle for law and order in the face of untamed wilderness.
Before the arrival of European settlers, the area surrounding present-day Nelson and Eldorado Canyon served as a home to the Ancient Puebloan people. These early inhabitants lived peacefully for centuries, their lives intertwined with the rhythms of the land. Later, the Paiute and Mojave tribes also made their home in this region. Their traditional way of life was disrupted in 1775 when Spanish explorers ventured into the canyon, driven by their insatiable quest for gold. These Spaniards established a small settlement near the mouth of the Colorado River, christening it Eldorado, a name synonymous with mythical riches. Ironically, these initial prospectors overlooked the significant gold deposits concealed within the canyon’s depths, instead discovering silver in less-than-profitable quantities. Disheartened by the meager silver yields, the Spanish abandoned their settlement, leaving Eldorado Canyon to slumber once more.
The story of Eldorado Canyon took a new turn approximately seventy-five years later, in the 1850s, as a fresh wave of prospectors began to comb the streams that fed into the Colorado River. For a brief period, the remote location of Eldorado Canyon allowed these early miners to keep their gold discoveries relatively secret. This changed dramatically in 1858 with the arrival of the first steamboats navigating the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. The steamboats opened the floodgates to the area, and word of the gold strikes spread rapidly, triggering a surge of miners into the canyon.
By 1861, a particularly rich vein of gold, known as the Salvage Vein, was unearthed about five miles from the Colorado River. This vein, a vertically stacked ribbon of gold, ran through a steep ridge along one side of the canyon. Miners began their work at the crest of a high hill, gradually cutting into the vein. Soon after, several of these miners formed the Techatticup Mine, purportedly through a series of dubious dealings. The mine’s name is derived from the Paiute word for "hungry," a term frequently heard by early settlers from the starving Native Americans inhabiting the dry hills surrounding Eldorado Canyon. The Techatticup Mine would later come under the ownership of Senator George Hearst of California, the father of the renowned publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst.
The Nelson Mining District quickly became dotted with numerous mines, including the Gettysburg, Duncan, Solar, Rand, Wall Street, Swabe, and Golden Empire Mines. This area soon evolved into one of the earliest and most productive mining districts in Nevada. Notably, the Techatticup Mine, along with the Gettysburg, holds the distinction of being among the first mines in Nevada worked by white men. This marked a significant turning point in the region’s history, ushering in an era of rapid development and profound social change.
Many of the prospectors drawn to the Eldorado Canyon goldfield were reportedly Civil War deserters, and disputes, disagreements, and gunfights over gold and women became commonplace. Greed, claim-jumping, and vigilante justice fueled a volatile atmosphere. The Techatticup Mine itself was plagued by internal conflicts over ownership, management, and labor, quickly earning a reputation for notoriety. At one point, the violence in the bustling canyon, which housed as many as 500 miners, escalated to the point where killings became a near-daily occurrence, deterring even law enforcement from venturing into the area. The lawlessness of Eldorado Canyon became legendary.
Despite its grim reputation, the Techatticup Mine emerged as the most successful in the area, yielding millions of dollars worth of gold, silver, copper, and lead over the years. For the next seven decades, miners toiled deep within the hard rock of Eldorado Canyon, using picks and shovels in chambers illuminated by flickering candles.
As one tunnel’s gold reserves dwindled, they would excavate a new one just beneath it, employing blasting powder to break through the rock. The broken rocks were then hauled out to be pulverized and treated with cyanide to extract the gold. Over time, the miners carved out tiers of a dozen tunnels, with the lowest levels accessible through a long tunnel cut into the hillside some 500 feet below the upper entrance. The temperature inside the tunnels remained constant at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and some miners reportedly slept inside their workplaces to escape the intense desert heat. The Techatticup Mine is a testament to the relentless pursuit of wealth in the harsh environment of Eldorado Canyon.
The Techatticup Mine, along with dozens of others, fostered the growth of several settlements, including Nelson and Eldorado, along the river’s edge. As ore was extracted from the numerous mines in the area, it was transported to Nelson’s Landing on the Colorado River and shipped by steamboat to Yuma, Arizona, for overland shipment to San Francisco, California. The river also served as the primary artery for bringing much-needed supplies to the camps along the Eldorado Canyon.
In 1864, when the area was still part of Arizona Territory, the territory’s first stamp mill was constructed near the steamboat landing. This 10-stamp, steam-driven mill processed the ore from the area mines before it was shipped to Yuma. The mill was a vital component of the mining operations in Eldorado Canyon.
The pervasive lawlessness persisted as factions of Northern and Southern sympathizers emerged among the miners during the Civil War. This strife and bitterness divided the workers into opposing camps, severely disrupting mine and mill production. Eventually, Federal troops stationed downriver were transported by steamboat to quell the factions and prevent further bloodshed. The lawlessness worsened after the area became part of Nevada, as the nearest law officials were located in Hiko, Nevada, some 300 miles away. A military post was finally established in Eldorado Canyon in 1867 to safeguard steamboat traffic and monitor the local Native American tribes, who were beginning to raid the canyon. The need for law and order was paramount in Eldorado Canyon.
By 1883, a railhead was established in Needles, California, and the lengthy riverboat shipments to Yuma were rerouted to Needles, where the ore was offloaded. Improved overland routes eventually eliminated the need for steamboats altogether. This marked a significant shift in transportation logistics for Eldorado Canyon.
In addition to the numerous rowdy miners, Eldorado Canyon was also home to two of Nevada’s most notorious renegade Native Americans. The first, a man named Arvote, was said to have killed five area settlers. Around the same time, a Cocopah Indian named Queho terrorized the area and was reportedly Nevada’s first serial killer. He was said to have murdered 23 people in the early 1900s. Queho’s last known victim was Maude Douglas, who was killed near the Techatticup Mine in 1919. Having become Nevada’s Public Enemy Number One, Queho was relentlessly pursued by sheriff’s posses but was never captured. Remains believed to be his were finally discovered in a cave in Eldorado Canyon in 1940. The legend of Queho adds another layer of intrigue to the history of Eldorado Canyon.
In the early 1900s, Nelson’s Landing emerged as one of the largest ports on the Colorado River, and its importance grew even further in the 1920s for two key reasons. The first was Prohibition, which was enacted on January 16, 1920. Prohibition was strictly enforced on the Arizona side of the river in Mohave County, where moonshine sold for as much as $50.00 a gallon. However, in Clark County on the Nevada side, Prohibition was not enforced, and homemade liquor sold for as little as $1.00 a gallon. This disparity created a thriving trade along the river, as bootleggers transported their white lightning into Arizona. The era of Prohibition significantly impacted Eldorado Canyon.
The second reason for Nelson’s Landing’s increased importance was the preliminary work required for the construction of the Hoover Dam. Dozens of surveyors operated small boats from Nelson’s Landing, and many others were ferried across the river to complete their work. Following the dam’s completion, the area became one of the first major tourist destinations, with visitors guided to the best fishing spots and taken on tours of the dam. Nelson’s Landing soon transformed into a resort offering boats, bait, gasoline, food, and cabins. The construction of the Hoover Dam had a transformative effect on Eldorado Canyon.
The Techatticup Mine remained operational until approximately 1945, producing over 2.5 million dollars worth of gold, silver, copper, and lead. After its closure, the mine sat abandoned for nearly five decades. The town of Nelson quickly declined, leaving behind little more than the remnants of mine works and tailings scattered among the scorpions and rattlesnakes. The decline of the Techatticup Mine marked the end of an era for Eldorado Canyon.
Following the completion of Davis Dam in the mid-1950s, Lake Mohave began to fill, submerging the old stamp mill site, the steamboat landing, and the remains of the Eldorado Camp. This submersion effectively erased many physical traces of the area’s rich history.
In its nearly 100 years of mining activity, the Nelson District yielded over 500 million dollars worth of ore, a testament to the region’s abundant mineral resources. The economic impact of mining in Eldorado Canyon was substantial.
Today, a tour of Eldorado Canyon begins by taking Nelson Road (Nevada Highway 165) from I-95 south of Boulder City. As you travel southeast, the highway gradually ascends through approximately 11 miles of desert hills before reaching the old mining community of Nelson, Nevada. This drive offers picturesque views of desert wildflowers in the spring. Nelson is entirely surrounded by Bureau of Land Management property, where you may spot bighorn sheep and wild burros roaming the hillsides.
Nelson is now essentially a ghost town, with a population of only about twenty residents. With no open businesses, the town’s past is marked by weathered sheds, small shacks with corrugated metal siding, and rusting machinery parts. The few remaining residents live in modern buildings and mobile homes. A small, overgrown cemetery sits on a hillside above Nelson, and although it contains some recent graves, they are largely obscured by brush. Despite its current state, it is difficult to imagine that in the 1880s, Nelson and the ten-mile Eldorado Canyon housed more people than the entire Las Vegas valley.
As you leave Nelson, the road winds its way through the canyon, offering dramatic views of rugged rock walls and stone formations, pocked with holes and tailings from its mining past. The landscape of Eldorado Canyon bears the scars of its mining history.
After being abandoned for five decades, Tony and Bobbie Werly purchased the Techatticup Mine and 51 acres of surrounding property, embarking on a mission to restore and recreate the buildings. Prior to purchasing the mine acreage, the couple operated a river adventure business in nearby Boulder City. Their efforts have helped to preserve the history of Eldorado Canyon.
By clearing rubble from the mine tunnels, stabilizing ramps and ladders, and installing electric lights and emergency phones, the mine was reopened for guided tours. These above and below-ground tours last approximately one hour, taking visitors 500 feet into the mine. During the tour, you’ll learn about the mine’s history, Nelson’s Landing, and the area’s turbulent past. Mine tours require a minimum of four people (which can be combined with another group), and reservations are recommended. The Techatticup Mine tour provides a fascinating glimpse into the mining history of Eldorado Canyon.
Over the past decade, the couple has also restored and preserved several buildings at the mine site. Across from the mine stands a historic 1861 building that now serves as a museum for the area and the Techatticup Mine. Here, you can view a display of old photographs, tools, and other mining memorabilia. Tony and Bobbie also offer river tours and rent kayaks and canoes for use on the nearby Colorado River. Reservations for river tours are required.
The Techatticup Mine has served as the setting for two movies. The first, "Breakdown," starring Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan, was released in 1997, and several artifacts from the movie can be seen at the site. Several years later, the movie "3000 Miles to Graceland" was released in 2001, with parts filmed at the mine site. This movie, again starring Kurt Russell, as well as an all-star cast including Kevin Costner, Courtney Cox, Christian Slater, and David Arquette, shot several scenes here, including the scene where the Lucky Strike gas station explodes. Props from the movie, including the crashed airplane, can still be seen at the site. The Techatticup Mine’s Hollywood connections add to its allure.
Beyond Techatticup, the road continues to wind its way to the Colorado River, opening up to panoramic views across Lake Mohave and into Arizona. Nelson’s Landing once stood on the river below, but it is long gone today. Numerous old roads angle down toward the lake, where the National Park Service manages much of the area. Be aware that severe penalties for off-roading in National Park areas can be levied.
If you explore the outlying land, exercise caution as many open mines and ventilation shafts exist. Although most of the mines in the district are no longer active, the majority are on private property and are posted as such. Respect these no-trespassing signs, as local landowners are known to prosecute trespassers. Safety is paramount when exploring the Eldorado Canyon area.
To reach Eldorado Canyon, take I-95 south of Boulder City, which is 13 miles to SR 165. Turn left onto SR 165 (Nelson Road) and continue for about 11 miles to Nelson. From Nelson, the Techatticup Mine is just a few more miles down the winding road, and a few miles beyond that lies Lake Mohave.
It’s advisable to call ahead to ensure availability and to check the latest reviews on TripAdvisor before visiting.
Contact Information:
Eldorado Canyon Mine Tours
Highway 165 between Nelson, Nevada, and the Colorado River